Rally time! Mark your calendars! February 24th. Save The Dates! Building community through the power of music....Healing! 🙌🎶❤️‍🔥

Honored to be named a 2026 Keeping the Blues Alive Award recipient. This award reflects 22 years of community, friendship, and dedication to bringing FREE, LIVE music to Omaha. Full story: playingwithfireomaha.net/jef… #BluesFoundation #KBA2026 #PlayingWithFire #Omaha #FreeLiveMusic

Soulful. Powerful. Deeply rooted. Levi Platero returns to the PwF stage from the Navajo Nation with his signature Texas blues and guitar heroics. Blues is in the soul of Platero. “With blues, you could play forever." He takes the stage for the final night of PwF on Saturday.

British blues meets high-octane emotion at PwF Encore Weekend – one week from tonight – with Ben Poole of the U.K. Now a veteran of touring, Poole played his first U.S. show at PwF in 2013, and next Friday (Aug. 15) will be his fourth encore performance in Omaha. A can't-miss!

When you talk about the heart of Omaha’s blues scene, one name rises to the top: Hector Anchondo, who kicks off PwF Weekend #2 on week from tonight (Aug. 15). Hector jams in local bars nearly every weekend and won the 2020 International Blues Challenge.

Talent and vision are what supports a free concert for more than 20 years. Of course. But also? Buckets. Meet the PwF Bucket Brigade. You’ll see 'em. If you feel inclined, drop a buck in the bucket. No pressure. No guilt. If the music moves you … support PwF in our community.

🔥 PwF Encore Weekend 🔥 Encore Weekend is more than just a lineup; it's an experience built on popular demand. Co-producer Vanessa says, “The Encore Weekend is all about bringing back bands that our audiences, Jeff and I, have fallen in love with over the last several years.”

Before The Slowdown and kilts and Canadian horn sections, there was a stage, a field and a dream at Omaha's Lewis & Clark Landing. “The early years of PwF were pure magic,” says PwF founder Jeff Davis. Let's hear it! What are your best moments? Drop them all in the comments.😍

Behind the scenes at Playing with Fire, volunteers assist with production, from stagehands and merchandising to transportation, hospitality and setup – come rain, shine or heat. We are thankful for ALL who've showed up for the love of music and community. #PwF2025

Playing with Fire has hosted more than 100 shows with more than 350 bands and 750,000 fans – all for free. Jeff Davis, founder and producer: “You need to be careful what you dream, because dreams come true. Mine did!” Jeff's PwF vision has transformed Omaha's music scene.

After a great first weekend, Playing with Fire “Encore Weekend” brings back some of the most-loved PwF artists to Omaha Aug. 15-16, including: 👑👑 King King 🍁 Bywater Call 🏴Cardinal Black And more! Which performers are YOU most excited to see again? Drop it in the comments.

Bet You Didn’t Know ... Kevin Breit, who plays with Harry Manx tomorrow during Night #1 of PwF, once performed on Norah Jones’ “Come Away With Me” – yes, that album. And now he’s blending his sound with Indian ragas and Delta blues at PwF 2025. That’s the magic of this lineup.

It’s Playing with Fire Eve! Kicking PwF ’25 off tomorrow is Jared William Gottberg (below, left), Harry Manx (at right) with Kevin Breit, and headliners the Cinelli Brothers (middle). We will see you there! #PwF2025 #JaredWilliamGottberg #HarryManxReturns #CinelliBrothersDebut

The Cinelli Brothers are excited to get to Omaha and ready to play as the headliners of Night #1 of Playing with Fire at The Slowdown. The London-by-way-of-Italy duo made this video to show us some love! Check it out. #PlayingWithFireOmaha #theslowdown #TheCinelliBrothers

PwF artists don’t come from booking agencies – they come from gut reactions. Co-producers Jeff & Vanessa don’t wait for bands to get famous – they find them. That’s how Cardinal Black, Alice Armstrong, Bywater Call & others landed at PwF. #PwFDiscovery #JeffAndVanessa #PwF2025

Wood Spirit Guitars donated $2,500 custom guitar & hardcase carrier to support BluesEd! 🎸 🎟 Raffle tix at all PwF + BluesEd shows 🎉 Winner drawn live Aug 16 @ Slowdown 👏 Thank you, Jon Beason! #PwFOmaha #BluesEd #SupportYouthMusic #GuitarRaffle

Did you know Alice Armstrong – 2024 & 2025 UK Blues Awards’ Blues Artist of the Year – is part blues queen, part stand-up comic? In between soul-drenched anthems & funky blues-rockers, Alice likes to throw out one-liners – all while keeping the vibe high & the blues deep.

One from the PwF FAQ Bucket: “Can I bring in outside food?” Yes! Just no outside drinks. Plus, you'll find plenty of options for both inside & outside in the NoDo area and @theslowdown has a full bar with beer, pop, cocktails, sodas and water! #PwF2025 #PwFDrinks #NoCoolersNeeded

How about Playing with Fire(starters), Jeff & Vanessa? They're the sparks that lit it in 2004 – & they've kept PwF burning bright since. If you’ve ever found joy in the music you’ve heard at PwF, then you’ve felt what Jeff & Vanessa have so lovingly created.#JeffAndVanessa #PwF

🎙️ PwF Hits the Airwaves! 📻 Monday, July 21– Blues in the Afternoon @KIOSOmaha 91.5 FM w/Mike Jacobs 📻 Wednesday, July 23 – Hiway Blues @KZUMradio 89.3 FM w/Al Lundy Tune in & feel the fire!🔥 #PwF2025 #PlayingWithFireOmaha #BluesInTheAfternoon #HiwayBlues #Omaha #FreeConcerts